Dirac Equation with Modified Metric

We start from the Dirac equation with modified metric (17), which contains as a natural expansion parameter [12] ... 

The Dirac equation (with modified metric) is the condition for stationarity of the energy expectation value ip D il>) subject to the normalization condition (i 5 t/ ) = 1, or for stationarity of the functional... 

Before leaving the theoretical formalism section, it is important to note that perturbation theory for relativistic effects can also be done at the fo n-con onent level, i.e. before elimination of the small component by a Foldy-Wouthitysen (FW) or Douglas-Kroll transformation. This is best done with direct perturbation theory (DPT) [71]. DPT involves a change of metric in the Dirac equation and an expansion of this modified Dirac eqtiation in powers of c . The four-component Levy-Leblond equation is the appropriate nonrelativistic limit. Kutzelnigg [72] has recently worked out in detail the simultaneous DPT for relativistic effects and magnetic fields (both external and... 

This equation is exact just as the modified Dirac equation of chapter 15 is exact. It can also be separated into spin-free and spin-dependent terms, but now the separation must be done in both the Hamiltonian and the metric. Visscher and van Lenthe (1999) have shown that the spin separation gives different results for the two modified equations, and therefore the spin separation is not unique. This regular modified Dirac equation can be used in renormalization perturbation theory, with ZORA as the zeroth-order Hamiltonian. 

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